Austin, TX, October 1, 2025
News Summary
As the U.S. government approaches a potential shutdown, Central Texans are at risk of losing essential services such as Meals on Wheels and food assistance through SNAP. U.S. Rep. Greg Casar emphasizes the need for bipartisan cooperation to fund the government and prevent cuts to vital health care services. The impending shutdown could affect millions in Texas including federal workers, food programs, and healthcare subsidies, demanding urgent legislative action to secure funding before the deadline.
Austin, Texas – The United States government is rapidly approaching a potential shutdown, which could have significant impacts for Central Texans, particularly for those who rely on essential services like Meals on Wheels and the Central Texas Food Bank. As lawmakers scramble to reach a funding agreement, U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin) is calling for bipartisan cooperation to ensure critical government services remain operational.
The looming shutdown could affect millions of Texans, particularly those receiving SNAP benefits, who may lose access to vital food assistance if an agreement is not reached. Casar has pointed out that House Republicans must take urgent action to prevent cuts to healthcare, simultaneously ensuring that the government remains adequately funded.
GOP figure Andy Hogue has indicated local Republican efforts are underway to devise a stopgap solution, yet there are claims that Democrats are using the situation to push for the expansion of Obamacare. On a national scale, Republicans have accused Democrats of wanting to include health care benefits for undocumented immigrants in any funding deal, a claim that has been denied by U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston).
Organizations like Meals on Wheels Central Texas, which serves over 3,000 people daily, and the Central Texas Food Bank, feeding more than half a million annually, could experience a critical reduction in funding should a shutdown take effect. If Congress cannot pass a funding bill by 12:01 a.m. Eastern time, the shutdown will begin.
In response to the present challenges, Congress is contemplating a short-term funding resolution that would keep the government operating until November 20. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has announced plans to facilitate votes on competing stopgap bills. However, any funding legislation will require 60 votes to pass in the Senate, meaning that seven Democrats must join Republicans to achieve this majority.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has stated that failure of the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) may indeed result in a shutdown. Meanwhile, Democrats are demanding a new bill to reverse cuts to Medicaid and protect health insurance premiums from rising costs. Casar has stressed that without a funding solution, 15 million people could potentially lose their health care or face significant increases in health care costs.
Another critical concern includes the expiration of Affordable Care Act health care subsidies for millions of Americans, which is expected to create additional pressures on families needing support.
The impending government shutdown poses risks not only to food and health programs but also affects approximately 224,300 federal workers in Texas. Essential government employees, such as air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and military personnel may still be required to work without pay should the shutdown take place. Furthermore, crucial services like food inspections and drug manufacturing oversight by the FDA may be interrupted, creating additional risks to public safety.
The U.S. Travel Association has cautioned about potential disruptions, including flight delays, longer security lines, and cancelled trips. Notably, national parks and museums could also close, while some services such as the IRS and Social Security will continue to function. However, programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program may run out of funding without a resolution, unable to provide necessary support to those in need.
In Travis County, officials have been briefed on the potential implications of the shutdown for grant programs, which currently have $36 million in awarded grants. While short-term impacts are not anticipated due to previous funding allocations, delays in reimbursement requests may occur. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days between late 2018 and early 2019, underscoring the serious consequences of such events.
USAA has responded to the crisis by announcing assistance measures for its members potentially affected by the shutdown, including no-interest loans and other payment relief options.
FAQ
- What is the potential impact of the government shutdown on Central Texans?
- Central Texans are at risk of facing significant impacts, especially those relying on programs like Meals on Wheels and the Central Texas Food Bank.
- What programs may be affected by a shutdown?
- Programs like Meals on Wheels, the Central Texas Food Bank, SNAP, and WIC may face funding difficulties due to the shutdown.
- How many Texans are at risk of losing health care in the event of a shutdown?
- 15 million people could lose their health care or face significant increases in their health care costs if the shutdown occurs.
- What actions are being urged to prevent the shutdown?
- The House Republicans need to prevent healthcare cuts and keep the government funded.
- What will happen to federal workers in Texas during a shutdown?
- A potential government shutdown could impact 224,300 federal workers in Texas, with many required to work without pay.
Key Features of Government Shutdown Risks
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| SNAP Benefits | Potential loss of access for millions of Texans. |
| Health Care | 15 million people could lose health care or face increased costs. |
| Federal Workers | Affected 224,300 federal employees in Texas. |
| Food Programs | Meals on Wheels and Central Texas Food Bank could see funding cuts. |
| Essential Services | Essential services may continue to operate, but non-essential services will be halted. |
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Additional Resources
- KVUE News
- Wikipedia: Government Shutdown
- CBS Austin
- Google Search: Government Shutdown 2023
- FOX 7 Austin
- Google Scholar: Government Shutdown Effects
- KXAN News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Government Shutdown
- Spectrum Local News
- Google News: Government Shutdown 2023
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